MND advocate Neale Daniher named Melburnian of the Year

FOOTBALL legend Neale Daniher has vowed to keep fighting the “beast” that is killing him after receiving Melbourne’s top accolade.

The Melburnian of the Year Neale Daniher. Picture: David Caird

FOOTBALL legend Neale Daniher has vowed to keep fighting the “beast” that is killing him after receiving Melbourne’s top accolade.

Daniher, who has motor neurone disease, was last night named Melburnian of the Year in a gala Town Hall ceremony.

The prestigious award for his work fighting MND came as the former player and coach is preparing for a new phase in his battle against the debilitating illness.

Daniher’s home in Melbourne’s leafy eastern suburbs is being renovated in readiness for the day when he will no longer be able to walk.

“I’ll eventually become wheelchair-bound, eventually I’ll have to be lifted by hoist, all this within a two to three year time span,” he said.

“It’s very costly, it’s not an easy life, neither for the sufferer nor for the people who need to look after you.”

Daniher, 55, is not complaining about his condition, but merely pointing out the reality of what the 2000 Australians diagnosed with MND have to go through.

“We need to raise awareness of what motor neurone disease is, what it does and why we need funding to find a treatment and cure,” he said.

Daniher is strongly supported in his struggle by wife Jan, his children Lauren, Luke, Rebecca and Ben, and his ten brothers and sisters.

“Human beings are very adaptive, you adapt. I’m very fortunate to have my wife and my family who support me,” he said.

“They have great empathy for people with MND in society. They need great care and a lot of people haven’t got that care.”

Daniher with wife Jan. Picture: David Caird

It is Daniher’s amazing work through the Cure for MND Foundation that prompted the City of Melbourne to award him its top honour.

As the foundation’s patron and vice-chairman, the former Essendon champion and Melbourne coach has helped raise almost $12 million through events like Freeze at the G and Daniher’s Drive.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said it wasn’t just Daniher’s fundraising and awareness campaigns that made him an ideal choice as Melburnian of the Year.

“It is the way he has galvanised the community to get behind a crucial cause,” he said.

This year, Daniher received a Member of the Order of Australia for his work with MND and has been nominated for Australian of the Year.

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Herald Sun, Daniher said he felt greatly honoured by the Melbourne award, which he stressed recognised the work of all the staff and volunteers of the Cure For MND Foundation.

“It’s a lonely disease, but I think people now are understanding the symptoms and I think it assists people who suffer with the disease that people know something about it rather than not knowing,” he said.

Symptoms of MND include slurred speech, a situation that has led to misunderstandings in public.

“I’ve been pulled up at a bar in the early afternoon asking me if I’m drunk,” he said with a laugh.

“But that’s the least of my problems.”

Daniher knows that one day the paralysing effect of the disease will stop him breathing.

After going through cycles of shock, denial and grief, he has fully accepted his “death sentence” and now focuses on opportunities and enjoying life’s little moments.

“On days like today, when you’re going for a walk with the dogs it’s very therapeutic,” he said on a sunny morning in his backyard while his two dogs frolicked around him.

You count your blessings.”

“When you’ve got a terminal illness it puts everything into perspective. If your team loses on Saturday, it’s not the end of the world.”

To donate to the foundation go to www.curemnd.org.au

Twitter:@JMasanauskas